Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division, in joint operations with other security agencies, have intensified their crackdown on oil theft, deactivating nine illegal refining sites and arresting 17 suspected oil thieves across the Niger Delta between 8 and 20 September 2025.
Confirming the report, Acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations Lieut. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma said the operations also led to the recovery of over 45,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states.
In Delta State, troops uncovered a storage facility around Ogwu Community, Warri South Local Government Area (LGA), containing more than 20,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), pumping and metering machines, and a tanker truck with over 10,000 litres of illegally refined products.
Similarly, in Bayelsa State, two refining sites and dugout pits holding 7,000 litres of stolen products were destroyed, while a Toyota Camry conveying 600 litres of AGO was seized in Okordia, Yenagoa LGA.
In Rivers State, troops intercepted a Toyota 4Runner SUV transporting 1,600 litres of stolen products in Ahoada West LGA, while additional seizures included 23 sacks of AGO, a wooden boat laden with stolen products in Degema LGA, and a vandalised Oando pipeline at Obiafor Oil Field, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA.
Operations in Akwa Ibom State targeted key smuggling corridors, further restricting the activities of oil thieves.
The Army reiterated its commitment to sustaining the pressure on economic saboteurs to curb oil theft and protect critical national assets.
